Shangqiu Ebo Terrace

　　   Ebo Terrace was where Gaoyangshi, the son of Gaoxinshi (the fourth-generation descendant of Emperor Ku, the Yellow Emperor), served as Huozheng, the official in charge of fire. The role of Huozheng had two main duties: worshipping the planet Mars and observing its movements. It was here on this terrace that Ebo studied the stars to track time, understand the changes of the seasons, and guide agricultural and pastoral production. This high platform is the earliest astronomical observatory of the Chinese nation, dating back over four thousand years.

　　   Ebo belonged to the Zi clan. According to “Records of the Grand Historian,” his mother, Jiandi, became pregnant after eating the egg of the Xuan bird—believed to be a swallow—and thus gave birth to Ebo, which is why the Zi clan name was bestowed upon him. To this day, in our Shangqiu, there remains a custom where families who have a newborn send eggs as congratulations and dye the eggs red to share among children. This comes from a beautiful legend in Chinese culture—that those who eat the Xuan bird’s egg will bear a remarkable son. The tradition of eating red eggs originates from Ebo of the Zi clan.

　　   In ancient times, the terrain of Shangqiu was not flat but composed of hilly areas. People often lived on the hills to protect themselves from floods and wild beasts, hence the Zi clan residing on the hills came to be known as "Shang." In oracle bone script, the character “Shang” is composed of “Zi” (子) above and “hill” (冈) below. Two lines from the “Odes of Shang” in the Book of Songs state: “Born from the Xuan bird, descending to give birth to Shang,” referring to how the Xuan bird gave rise to the Shang people. Ebo is the founding ancestor of Shangqiu. The word “丘” (qiu) had two meanings in ancient times: one referred to a dwelling place, and the other to a burial mound. Ebo once lived on the terrace and was later buried there, hence the place became known as Shangqiu. The original Shangqiu refers to Ebo Terrace, and this designation has been in use for over four thousand years.

　　   Ebo Terrace is the birthplace of merchants and commerce. After Ebo’s death, his grandson Xiangtu inherited his legacy as Huozheng, and was the first to invent horse-drawn chariots and domesticate horses. His sixth-generation descendant, Wanghai, invented ox-drawn carts and began domesticating cattle. As recorded in historical texts, “establishing stables and pens, taming horses and cattle for the benefit of the people” refers to this development. With the advancement of agriculture and animal husbandry, the Shang tribe grew stronger, producing surplus goods. They then drove horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts to trade these surpluses with other tribes, giving rise to the concepts of “merchants,” “commerce,” and “commodities.”

　　   Today, Ebo Temple stands on Ebo Terrace. It was built during the Yuan Dynasty and preserves original structures such as the main hall, worship hall, meditation rooms, temple gates, bell and drum towers, and more. The entire architectural complex is simple, elegant, exquisite, and unique.

　　   Legend has it that the seventh day of the first lunar month is Ebo’s birthday. Every year during the first lunar month, people from hundreds of kilometers around in Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces come here to worship at the terrace, forming a massive temple fair. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, visitor numbers can reach up to over one hundred thousand people entering the temple grounds for worship and sightseeing.

　　   Address: Beside Rural Road 003, Suiyang District, Shangqiu City

　　   Type: Historical Site

　　   Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

　　   Opening Hours:

　　   Winter: 8:00–17:00; Summer: 8:00–17:30

　　   Ticket Information:

　　   Gate Price: 15.0 RMB

　　   The 15 RMB ticket includes both the Shangzu Shrine scenic area and Ebo Terrace